Table 1. Categories of Amazonian and Atlantic Forest protected areas considered in this study, followed by a description of key management restrictions and equivalent international status according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

SNUC reserve category	IUCN category	PA acronym	Description
Strictly protected reserves
Biological reserve	IUCN Ia	Reserve	Categories including the most restricted use, comprised of public areas aiming to preserve intact ecosystems. No resident human population are permitted.
Ecological station	IUCN Ib
Park	IUCN II	Park	In the public domain, aiming to preserve areas of great ecological importance and scenic beauty. Only research, recreation and tourism activities are permitted.
Natural monument	IUCN III	Refuge	A Natural Monument contains areas of outstanding natural beauty, whereas a Wildlife Refuge aims to protect areas in which species can persist and reproduce. Both categories can include private lands, as long as land use is compatible with the objectives of each category. Otherwise, landholdings can be expropriated and incorporated into the public domain.
Wildlife refuge	IUCN IV
Sustainable use reserves
Environmental protection area	IUCN V	EPA	Aims to protect biological diversity, but allows human occupation and natural resource use/extraction. Consists of public and private lands, and often includes agricultural and/or urban areas.
Area of relevant ecological interest	IUCN IV	AREI	Usually small sites with little or no human occupation. Contains important examples of biota and their use can be carefully regulated. Can include either public or private lands.
Forest	IUCN VI	Forest	Predominantly native forest cover whose main objective is the sustainable use of natural resources. Under public domain, with public visitation permitted.
Extractive reserve	IUCN VI	SUST	All categories comprise areas in the public domain that mainly aim to manage natural resources. Both Extractive Reserves and Sustainable Development Reserves contain traditional populations conducting extractive livelihoods.
Fauna reserve
Sustainable development reserve
Natural heritage private reserve	IUCN IV	NHPR	A private landholding, pledged in perpetuity for the conservation of biological diversity. Research, ecotourism visitation, recreation and education activities are all permitted.